United Nations Water Convention
Ivory Coast joined the United Nations Water Convention (Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes).
- Adopted in – Helsinki (Finland) in 1992
- Entered into force in 1996.
- Legally binding
- India is not a party
Mascho Piro
Recently, uncontacted indigenous Mashco Piro tribe was located in remote Peruvian Amazon, in Peru.
- Largest uncontacted tribes living in Amazon and Southeast Asia.
- Nomadic hunter-gatherers.
- Contact with them is prohibited fearing the spread of a disease among population to which it has no immunity.
- Madre de Dios Territorial Reserve was notified in 2002 to protect their territory.
Khelo India Rising Talent Identification (KIRTI) Program
Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports to launch second phase of KIRTI Program in New Delhi.
- Objectives –
- Streamline whole process of grassroots talent identification (age-group between 9 – 18 years) on a single platform.
- Achieve 20 Lakh assessments in 2024-25 by onboarding all state to identify talent through notified Talent Assessment Centre.
- Help achieve twin objectives of Khelo India Scheme i.e. excellence in sports, and mass participation in sports.
National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research
NCPOR signed a contract with a Defence PSU for constructing Indigenous Ocean Research Vessel to unravel deep oceans.
- Established as an autonomous Research and Development Institution of Ministry of Earth Sciences in 1998.
- Chairman (ex-officio) of governing body – Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences.
- Mandate –
- Facilitatory role in scientific research activities being undertaken in Antarctica, Arctic and in Indian Ocean sector of Southern Ocean.
- Management of Indian Antarctic Research Bases “Maitri” and “Bharati”, and Indian Arctic base “Himadri”.
Foreigners Tribunals
Supreme Court recently overturned the decision of Assam Foreigners’ Tribunal and declared a resident of the State as Indian citizen.
- Quasi-judicial bodies established under the Foreigners (Tribunals) Order, 1964
- Only Foreigners Tribunals have the power to declare a person as a foreigner.
- Has powers of a civil court under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908.
- Set up by – State government